13 Quick and Easy Party Snacks and Appetizers

The best finger foods for any party

By
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
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Updated on 12/13/22
Diary free soft pretzels recipe

The Spruce / Cara Cormack

Whether you're getting together with family, going to a holiday party, or celebrating at the office, you'll probably be asked to bring a snack or dish. Here you'll find a number of and popular finger foods and party snacks, and many of them are super easy to prepare. While some are best served hot, others are served at room temperature so you can bring them with you to the party.

  • 01 of 13

    Parmesan Crostini Crisps

    Parmesan Crostini Crisps

    The Spruce / Eric Kleinberg

    When you want a crispy, crunchy snack that pleases the masses, these simple Parmesan crisps are perfect. Flavored only with olive oil and real Parmigiano-Reggiano (real Parmesan) cheese they are not only tasty, but extremely easy to throw together. Make a lot…they are very addictive.

  • 02 of 13

    Easy No-Cook Salsa

    Easy No-Cook Salsa

    The Spruce / Sonia Bozzo

    This easy no-cook salsa is great for kids' lunches, parties, and family meals. It's made with canned petite or regular diced tomatoes, so there's far less chopping involved. Feel free to use fresh tomatoes, especially if they're in season. 

  • 03 of 13

    Spiced Savory Spiced Mixed Nuts

    Mixed nuts with other finger foods.
    Diana Rattray

    These savory spiced nuts are always a hit! Worcestershire sauce and a variety of spices give them loads of flavor. You won't be able to stop snacking on these tasty mixed nuts.

  • 04 of 13

    Nutella Pastry Puffs

    nutella puff pastry

    Chocolate spread on anything is an absolute treat. But how about an impressive-looking, perfectly warm, Nutella-oozing pastry puff? Our quick and easy recipe puts the most decadent and crispy pastry on your table.

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  • 05 of 13

    Vegan Soft Pretzels

    Diary free soft pretzels recipe

    The Spruce / Cara Cormack

    This recipe is a vegan snacking staple for kids and adults, great for movie nights and after-school snacks, and the perfect appetizer. Feel free to sprinkle your pretzels with spices, sugar, or nutritional yeast for different flavor variations.

  • 06 of 13

    Cheese Straws

    Cheese Straws

    Ian O'Leary / Dorling Kindersley / Getty Images

    These easy cheese straws are sure to be a hit. One of the tricks is to use sharp cheddar for the best flavor. Add a little more cayenne pepper for extra punch. The dough is easy to make either in a food processor or mixing it in a bowl. Then it takes only minutes to roll them into straws and bake. You can serve them warm or make them ahead and serve at room temperature.

  • 07 of 13

    Pigs in a Blanket

    Crescent Roll Pigs in a Blanket

    The Spruce / Eric Kleinberg

    Mini hot dogs or sausages are wrapped with cheese in refrigerated crescent rolls to make this crowd-pleasing appetizer. You can dress them up by brushing the top of each crescent-wrapped hot dog with an optional egg and water mixture and then sprinkling them lightly with sesame seeds or poppy seeds. Serve them with mustard and chili sauce or barbecue sauce.

  • 08 of 13

    Baked Spinach Balls

    Baked Cheesy Spinach Balls

    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

    These baked spinach balls are a great appetizer and are very easy to make. They are finger food if you simply serve them speared with a toothpick. You can provide dipping sauces such as a grainy mustard, marinara sauce, chipotle mayonnaise, or a mustard and mayonnaise dip. You may find you enjoy them so much that you'll be making them as meatless meatballs to have with spaghetti.

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  • 09 of 13

    Tortilla Roll-ups

    tortilla roll-ups

    Eric Isaac Moment / Open / Getty Images

    Serve these tasty, easy tortilla snacks with your favorite salsa, guacamole, or a spicy dip. This recipe uses a cheese and vegetable filling with cream cheese, sour cream, cheddar cheese, and chopped vegetables. You can spice them up with some minced jalapeno peppers. You can also change it up by adding meat such as diced ham, crumbled bacon, or thinly sliced turkey.

  • 10 of 13

    Quick and Easy Popcorn Balls

    Quick and Easy Popcorn Balls

    The Spruce/Diana Chistruga

    These popcorn balls are a snap to make with freshly popped popcorn, sugar, and corn syrup. Make these popcorn snacks for a party or game-day gathering.

  • 11 of 13

    Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers

    Small plate of bacon-wrapped jalapeno poppers
    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

    Whether for a family movie night, snack or game-day appetizer for friends, these bacon-wrapped poppers can't be beat. These cheese-filled poppers are wrapped in bacon and baked to perfection in the oven—there's no messy, hot oil to contend with, and they don't need to be cooked in batches.

  • 12 of 13

    Bacon-Wrapped Shrimp

    Simple bacon wrapped shrimp recipe

    The Spruce Eats/Julia Hartbeck

    Bite-sized bacon-wrapped shrimp appetizers look and taste elegant enough for a party. Or, try bacon-wrapped scallops instead. You can make them ahead and then transfer them to a warming tray or slow cooker for serving. Experiment with seasoning them with lemon pepper or a little Creole or Cajun seasoning. Serve with lemon aioli for dipping.

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  • 13 of 13

    Crockpot Chex Party Mix

    Chex Party Mix in a Crockpot
    Acme Food Arts / Getty Images

    Making your own party mix allows you to choose what savory crunchy snacks to include. This recipe shows how you can make it in a crockpot, which is a great way to multitask. You might also use a variation to make it gluten-free.